Web splicing apparatus



Dec. 31, 1946. o. c. ROESEN 2,413,581

WEB SPLICING APPARATUS Filed June 14, 1944 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 JNVENTOR. 6% BY 7..., a

Y m; ATTORNEYS Dec. 31, 1946. o. c. ROESEN 2,413,581

WEB SPLICING APPARATUS Filed June 14, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 4/ 4/ m5 I05 4 mg ::l :';:i

INVENTOR.

@(fM BY Dec. 31, 1946.

0. c. R OESEN WEB SPLICING APPARATUS Filed June 14, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IHH HHI

INVENTOR. W C 2 o wmrm ,v JATTORNEYS Dec. 31, 1946. o. c. ROESEN WEB SPLICING APPARATUS Filed June 14. 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. M c. M

, /l: A TTOR NE Y5 Dec. 31, 1946. o. c. R OESEN v I 2,413,531

WEB SPLICING APPARATUS Filed June 14, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 .i-M' 0 INVENTOR.

an A TTOR NE Y5 Patented Dec. 31, 1946 WEB SPLIQING APPARATUS Oscar C. Roesen, Scarsdaie, N. Y., assignor to Wood Newspaper Machinery Corporation, Plainfield, N. .L, a corporation of Virginia Application June 14, 1944, Serial No. 540,201

- 16 Claims.

This invention relates to the continuous supply of webs to web consuming apparatus such as printing presses, paper perforating and winding machines, envelope and bag making machines and the like. The invention particularly concerns. an improved apparatus for replacing the i roll supplying the web to such apparatus without interrupting or retarding the speed of web travel and without any undesirable variation in the tension on the web.

The paper or other flexible web fed to a printing press or other web consuming apparatus runs from rolls which must be replaced periodically as they are consumed. High speed web roll replacement has heretofore been accomplished by mechanism in which a new roll bearing a layer of adhesive at the leading end of its web is brought to a position adjacent the running web and is accelerated to the speed of the running web. Thereafter, when the roll supplying the running web has been consumed to a point near its end, the leading end of the web on the new roll is spliced to the running web and the web from the expiring roll approaching the new roll surface is severed. Prior to the splicing operation, the desired tension of the running web is maintained by suitable members usually in the form of yieldable belts, straps or the like which engage the surface of the running roll. The web tension may be varied by moving the running roll into or out of the belts or straps to increase or decrease the extent to which these tension members wrap around the roll surface. After a splice is made and the web from the expiring roll is severed, the tension derived from contact between the expiring roll and the tension members is lost and the operator 'must thereafter move the new roll to a running position in which the wrap'of the tension members on its surface is sufllcient to replace the tension lost when the 01d web was cut. The inevitable delays and irregularities that result from manual control of this tension increasing operation give rise to undesirable variations in web tension which adversely affect the operation of the web consuming apparatus.

The objects of the present invention include the provision of an improved apparatus for so coordinating the web splicing, web severing and tension applying operations that web roll replacement is made without any undesirable decrease or other variation in the tension on the web fed to the press or other consuming apparatus. More specifically, the invention contemplates a method and apparatus in which the old web is severed immediately after the splice is made, and simultaneously with or immediately after the severing of the old web, the new web roll is moved 7 to a running position in which adequate tension is applied to its surface and so imposed on the web running therefrom. The objects of the invention further embrace a'method and apparatus in which the application of or increase in tension applied through the new roll when the splice is made is governed by movement of the spliced end of the new roll Web away from the roll surface with the running web. Other specific objects, advantages and characteristic features of the invention will be apparent from the appended description of certain typical embodiments thereof.

In ge eral, the above noted and other objects of the invention are carried out by the provision of a control actuator on the web of the new roll adjacent its leading end, together with means rewhich certain embodiments thereof have been.

illustrated. In the drawings; I

Fig. 1 is a, simplified and diagrammatic side elevation of apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an endelevation of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 1 showing the reel mechanism on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows;

Figs. 5, 6 and '7 are respectively side elevations v similar to Fig. 1 showing the apparatus in three successive operating positions;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a new roll prepared for splicing in the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of a paster tab which may be employed in conjunction with the invention;

Fig. 10 is a simplified and diagrammatic side elevation of apparatus embodying the invention and designed for use in connection with web splic-' ing operations in which self-sticking adhesive is employed;

Figs, 11 and 12 are respectively elevations simlar to Fig. 10 showing a portion of the apparatus in successive operating positions; I f

' in Fig. 1.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view or a new roll prepared for pasting in the apparatus illustrated in Fig. and

Fig. 14 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of a paster tab of the type shown on the roll of Fig. 13.

Referring to the drawings, in Figs. -1, 2 and 3. there is shown a three-roll reel comprising a spider 26 having three radially extending angularly spaced arms l8, l6 and II respectively carrying spindles l8. l8 and on which rolls 2|, 22,'and 23 are rotatably supported. The web of the rolls illustrated may comprise paper for use. in a printing press or any other thin flexible material. A reel shaft24, journaled in the stand 25 is formed integrally with or secured to the spider 28. It will be understood that a like spider. shaft and stand is provided at the opposite ends of the rolls. As shown in Fig. 1, the reel is in such a position as to place the roll 2! in what will be termed the splicing position.

Adjacent the reel is a tension mechanism of known construction in the form of one or more running belts 21 disposed parallel to the. cylindrical surfaces of the rolls on the reel. The belts 27 are generally spaced axially of the rolls and travel over the idler pulleys 28, 28, 38. 3| and 82, the weighted compensator pulley 33 and the drive pulley 34. The pulley 84 is driven at a speed such that its peripheral velocity is close to but slightly below that of the web 86 running to the press or other web consuming apparatus. This drive may be effected through suitable means such as'a shaft 35 connected to the web consuming apparatus.

Means are provided for accelerating a roll in the splicing position to web speed before the splice is made. In the illustrated embodiment, a traction belt 31 of known construction is employed for this purpose. The belt is carried by three triangularly disposed rol ers 38. 38 and 40 supv orted on a pivoted arm iii biased to press the belt 31 against the surface of the roll 3i by suit-- able means such as a spring 82. The rollers 88, 88 and 88 are driven at substantially web speed by suitable means such as the belts or chains 88, 8 5, 48 and 88.

latch 88 causes disengagement of this latch from- A brush and knife arm 8? is pivotally connected at its upper end to a fixed support 48.

As best shown in Fig. 4, the arm 5? is keyed to a shaft 48 journaled in the support 48 and a worm wheel 58 is rotatably journaled on the shaft 48 adjacent the outside face of the arm 41. Eriction discs 5| are disposed on either face of the worm wheel 58 and a hand wheel 52, threaded on the shaft 48, serves to clamp the worm wheel 58 against the face of the arm 87 between the discs 5|. Loosening the hand wheel 82 releases the worm wheel 50 and so permits the arm 41 to swing by gravity to the vertical position shown A- worm 53 meshing with the worm wheel 58 and driven by a motor M'turns the wheel 50 in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 to lift the arm 41 away from the reel when the worm wheel 50 is clamped to the arm 41.

The arm 41 carries a pasting brush 88 ona bell crank lever 56 pivoted at 57. A slldably supported rod 58 connected to the operatingarm of the bell crank lever 56 i biased by a spring 88 to on a sliding rod 88 when the latch armature 88 is retracted by energization of the knife solenoid 81. The reel is rotated by suitable means such as a motor 68 mounted on the stand 25 and driving a worm 88 which meshes with a worm wheel 10 fixed to the reel shaft 24 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3). Means are provided for starting and stopping the reel and arm driving motors 88 and 58 in accordance with the web splicing operation and the movement of the reel. In the disclosed embodiment, a solenoid II is mounted on the reel stand 25 and has an armature 12 connected toa pair of movable contacts "and" which respectively connect the fixed. contacts 15-18 and ll-18 when the solenoid is energized. The upper end of the armature 12 comprises a latch 18 which engages a spring biased latch 88 pivotally connected at 8| to the stand 28 when the solenoid is energized to lift its armature (Fig. 6). A stud 82 extends outwardly from the face of the latch and is disposed to be engaged by one of the three latch-trip pins 88, 84 and 88 carried at equally spaced points on a disc 88 rotatably mounted on the reel shaft 24. The disc 88 is connected to turn with the reel shaft through adjusting means including a rod 88 threadedly.

engaging a stud 88 on the disc 88 and ioumaled in but held against axial movement through a stud 8| on a radial extension-82' of the disc 88. Rotation of the rod 88 by means of the hand wheel 88 moves the disc 88 relative to. the shaft 24 and so provides a fine adjustment of the position of the latch trip pins 88, 84 and 85 with respect to the positions of the reel arms I5, I 8 and i1. With the arrangement described, rotation of the reel to a position in which one of the pins 83, 84 or 85" strikes the stud 82 on the the solenoid armature latch 18 and so permits the contacts I3 and II to drop and disengage the fixed contacts 15-18 and 11-18.

The splicing and reel turning operations are governed by control actuators preferablycarried at or adjacent the leading end ofthe web on each new roll. One such roll 2| prepared for splicing has been illustrated in Fig. 8. The leading end of the web on this roll may be formed into points 84 in accordance with known practice, and these points are releasably held to the.

underlying layer of webforming the roll surface by means such as paster tabs 88 and 88. These tabs generally comprise a web end engaging part 81 secured to the web end by a strong adhesive, and a roll; surface engaging part 88 similarly secured to the adjacent-roll surface together with a weakened portion which may comprise a transverse roll of perforations 88 connecting the parts 81 and 88 at or adjacent the edge of the web. Layers l8! of tacky splicing adhesive are'spread on axially spaced areas of the web end and the tension belts 21 contact the roll surface between and outside of these adhesive coated areas in a manner well known in the art.

One of the paster tabs, here illustrated as the tab 85, is constructed to carry control actuators.

v In the illustrated embodiment, the web end enswing the brush 55 outward when released by the.

gaging part of this tab comprises an outer portoin I 08 and an under portionw IOI, and these portions are respectively secured to the outer and under surfaces ofthe web end. A control actuator I82 comprising a conductive layer of metal foil, metallic paint or the like, is disposed on the outer surface of the outer tab portion I08, and a similar conductive control actuator I03 is disposed on the under surface of the under tab 2i reaches the desired position.

portion IOI (Fig. 9). It shouldbe understood that the conductive control actuators I02 and I03 may be disposed directly on the outer and under surfaces of the web end rather than on tab portions secured thereto.

A pair of contact fingers I04 is disposed adjacent and in contact with the surface of the roll 2| in the splicing position. These fingers may be carried by but insulated from ashaft I05 of the roll accelerating mechanism as shown in Fig. 2. The fingers I04 are disposed in the path of the outer control actuator I02 so as to be electrically connected by this actuator as the roll 2i rotates. A similar pair of contact fingers I06 is mounted adjacent the web 36 where it travels away from the surface of the roll 2| in the splicing position. posed to be electrically connected by the control actuator- I03 on the under surface of the new web end just after the splice is made. A plate I01 may be provided to support the web 36 where it is contacted by the fingers I06.

The contact fingers I04 are connected in series with an energizing circuit for a relay I08,- which circuit includes a source of energy represented by a battery I09 and a manually operable switch H0. The contact fingers I06 are connected in series with an energizing circuit for a relay III,

The fingers I06 are dis.

which circuit includes a source of energy represented by the battery II 2. The relay I08 controls the knife solenoid 61 and the reel control a solenoid 1|. Thus energization of the relay I08 closes its contacts II 3, completing an energizing circuit from .the source of energy represented by the terminals lid through the wire H5, the solenoid I60, the wire H6, the contacts H3 and the wires H1 and H8. Energization of the relay III closes its sets of contacts II 9 and I20. Closure of the contacts II9 energizes the knife solenoid 61 through a circuit including the wires I2I, I22, I23 and I24. Closure of the contacts I20 energizes the solenoid II through a circuit including the wires I2I, I25, I26 and I24. Energization of. the solenoid 1I- closes its contacts 13 and-10. Closure of the contacts 13 energizes the reel drive motor 68 from a source of energy represented by the terminals I21 through a circuit clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Closure of the contact III energizes the arm driving motor 58 through a circuit including the wires I28 and I29. Closure of a manually operable switch I30 con ected between one terminal of the reel motor 60 and one of the terminals I21 energizes the motor 68 independently of the solei hold operated contact 13.

The operation of the above described embodiment of the invention will now be described. When a web roll 22 from which the web 36 is runni to the web consuming apparatus approaches depletion. the operator turns the reel to bring a new roll 2I, prepared for splicing as above described, to the splicing position shown in Fig. 1. This is accomplished by closing'the switch I30 and holding it closed until the roll The operator also sets the brush 54 and the knife 62 to the positions shown in Fig. 1 and loosens the hand wheel 52 to permit the arm 41 to move to its verticalposition, after which the hand wheel 52 is again tightenedto clamp the arm to the worm wheel 50. The belt 31 is lowered into contact withthe new roll 2I which is thereby accelerated until its peripheral velocity equals or substantially equals the running web speed, the direction of rotation of the roll being indicated by an arrow'. The operator then watches the expiring r011,

22 and when it runs off to a point close to its end, he closes the switch IIO. As soon as the roll 2| thereafter turns to the point where the control actuator I02 connects the contact fingers I04, the relay I00 is energized, closing its contacts-I I3 and so energizing the brush solenoid 60 to release the brush 55. The brush snaps outward, pressing the running web 36 into contact with the surface of the new roll 2I (Fig. 5). When the roll 2| turns to the position in whichits leading end contacts the running web '36-, the tacky adhesive layers I3! stick the new web end to the running 7 web to make the splice, the paster tabs 96 and 96 are severed along their weakened portions and the new web end moves away from the roll surface and travels with the running web. Immediately thereafter, the control actuator I88 on the under surface of the new web end electrically connects the contact fingers I0 3 whereby the relay III is energized and closes its contacts III and I20. This energizes the knife solenoid 61, releasing the knife 62 and so.cutting the old web between the expiring roll 22 and the new roll 2i. Energization of the relay II I also energizes the reel solenoid 1i, causing its armature 12 to latch in the closed position as shown in Fig. 6. Closure of the contacts 13 and 10 of the solenoid II energizes both the reel drive motor 66 and the arm drive motor 64. The reel is accordingly rotated in a clockwise direction as shown, advancing the newly spliced roll into the tension belts 21 to a running position in which the belts wrap around a considerable arc of the periphery of the roll 2i, as shown in Fig. 7. As the reel is thus turned, the arm 81 is moved out of its path. When the reel reaches the running position, the

I pin 84 disengages the latch 80 and so permits'the iii) armature 12 ofthe solenoid "II to drop, opening the contacts 13 and M and so de-energizing the reel and arm motors and 5% (Fig. 7). The reel thus stops with the newly spliced roll 2i in the desired running position, which position may be adjusted as desiredbymanipulation of the hand wheel 93 as above described. When the apparatus has reached the running position, the operator relatches the brush arm 56 and the knife 62 and the new roll 2i runs until it nears depletion, whereupon the reel is advanced by manual operation of the switch I30 to place the next new roll 23 in the splicing position, and the above described operations are repeated.

In the above described embodiment, tacky adhesive is employed to make the splice. My invention is also applicable to splicing operations of the type described in my Patent No. 2,320,656 in which self-sticking adhesive is'employed to splice the new Web to the running web. Such an application has been illustrated in Figs. 10 to 14.

Referring to Fig. 10, the parts of the apparatus there illustrated which are identical with corresponding parts of the apparatuspreviously described are designated by like reference characters bearing distinctive exponents. This apparatus differs from that previously described primarily in that no new roll accelerating belts are web as.

employed, and the splicing brush and its operating contact fingers, circuits and control actuator are omitted. The knife relay I II is energized by electrical connection of the contact fingers I06 engaging the under surface of the running These fingers are connected by a control actuator I 03 carried on the under surface of the leading end of the web on the new roll 7 2|. The knife solenoid 61 acts directly when energized to extend the knife 32'. to a position to sever the web.

The new roll 2 I is prepared for pasting by separably securing its leading end to the roll surface, providing a control actuator I03 on the-under surface of the leading web end and providing a layer of dried self-sticking adhesive I35 on the outer surface of the web at and adjacent its leading end. The adhesive comprising the layer I35 is of the type described in detail in my aforesaid PatentNo. 2,320,656. This self-sticking adhesive may comprise a rubber cement and has the prop-- erty of adhering to a paper or other web surface when applied thereto in liquid form and dried thereon. The applied and dried adhesive layer does not stick to an uncoated web surface but coheres tenaciously with an applied and dried layer of self-sticking adhesive carried into contact therewith by another web.

Inthe disclosed embodiment, the leading e d of the web on the roll 2| is separably secured to the roll surface by paster tabs I36 and I3'I, one of which, in the illustrated case the tab I36, carries the control actuator I03 on the under surface of its under part IOI. The core end of the web on the roll 2 I carries on its under surface a layer of applied and dried self-sticking adhesive extending longitudinally of the web for a distance at least as long as the circumference of the largest web roll to be spliced, and this applied and dried core end layer is illustrated at I38 in Figs. and 11, this being the core end adhesive layer of the expiring roll 22'.

The operation of the modification illustrated in Figs. 10 to 14 will now be described. When the running roll 22 has been depleted to a point where replacement will soon be required, the operator turns the reel clockwise to place the new -roll 2i, prepared asdescribed, in the splicing position which is illustrated in Fig. 10. The reel is so turned by closure of the manual switch I30. The operator also drops the arm 41' to the vertical position shown in Fig. 10 by loosening the' hand wheel 52' and then re-tightening this wheel. In the splicing position, the new roll 2i contacts the running web 36' backed by the belts 21', and the new roll ii is accelerated to or substantially to web speed by this contact. During rotation of the roll 2! in contact with the web 21', the selfsticking adhesive layer I on the leading end of the new roll web repeatedly contacts the running web, but because of the above explained properties of the self-sticking adhesive, the running web is not stuck to the new roll web. When the old roll 2! runs out substantially to its end, the self-sticking adhesive layer I38 adjacent the core end thereof moves into contact with the cylindrical surface of the new roll 2 I and contacts the self-sticking adhesive layer I35. The layers I35 and I38 stick tightly together upon contact, thus splicing the new web to the running web, and the new web is pulled away from the surface of the roll 2|, breaking the tabs I36 and I31 and traveling along the running web 36. Immediately thereafter, the control actuator I03 on the under surface of the new web end electrically connects the contact fingers I06, causing energization of the relay I I I. Closure of the relay contacts Il9 energizes the solenoid 61', extending the knife 62 to sever the old web running from the roll 22' to the roll 2I', as shown in Fig. 11. Closure of the contacts I20 energizes the solenoid II, closing its contacts I3 and 14'. The armature 12' of the solenoid II is latched up by inter-engagement of the latches 'I9' and Closure of the contacts I3 and I4 respectively energizes the reel drive motor 68' and the arm drive motor 54'. The reel is accordingly rotated clockwise, advancing the new roll 2| into the tension belts 21', and moving the expired roll 22' to a position where it can be removed and replaced by a new roll. The arm 41' is moved back out of the path of the reel as the reel turns. The pin 84' moves the latch 80 out of engagement with the latch I9, opening the contacts 13 and I I and the reel and arm stops in the'position shown in Fig. 12 where suitable running tension is applied to the roll 2! and thus to the web running therefrom.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for splicing the leading end of the web on a new roll to a web running past the surface of the new roll from an expiring roll after the new roll is accelerated to running web speed, in combination with means for applying a variable tension to the surface of said rolls, a control actuator on the new roll web adjacent its leading end and means responsive to movement of said control actuator away from the surface of the new roll to increase the tension applied to the surface of the new roll.

2. In apparatus for splicing the leading end of the web on a newroll to a web running past the surface of the new roll from an expiring roll after the new roll is accelerated to running web speed, in combination with a rotatable reel having spaced arms respectively carrying an expiring roll and a new roll, and tension means adjacent said reel for contacting the surface of the rolls on said reel to apply tension to the web running therefrom, a control actuator on the new roll web adjacent its leading end, and means responsive to movement of said control actuator away from the surface of said new roll for turning said reel to move said new roll into said tension means.

3. In apparatus for splicing the leading end of the web on a new roll to a web running past the surface of the new roll from an expiring roll after the new roll is accelerated to running web speed, in combination with a rotatable reel having angularly spaced arms respectively carrying an expiring roll and a new roll and flexible tension means adjacent said reel for contacting variable portions of the surfaces of said rolls as said reel is rotated, a control actuator on the new roll web adjacent its leading end, and means responsive to the movement of said control actuator away from the surface of said new roll for turning said reel .to increase the portion of the surface of the new roll contacted by said tension means.

4. In apparatus for splicing the leading end of the web ona new roll to a web running past the surface of the new roll from an expiring roll after the new roll is accelerated to running web speed, in combination with a rotatable me] having angularly spaced arms respectively carrying an expiring roll and a new roll and flexible tension means adjacent said reel for contacting variable portions of the surfaces of said rolls as said reel is rotated. a control actuator on the new roll web adjacent its leading end, and means responsive to the movement 'of said control actuator away from the surface of said new roll for turning said reel to increase the portion of the surface of the new.

roll contacted by said tension means, and to decrease the surface of said expiring roll contacted by said tension means.

5. In apparatus for splicing the leading end of the web on a new roll to a web running past the surface of the new r011 from an expiring roll after in combinationv with a rotatable reel having angularly spaced arms respectively carrying an expiring roll and a new roll and flexible tension means adjacent said reel for contacting variable portions of the surfaces of said rolls as said reel is rotated, a control actuator on the new roll web adjacent its leading end, means responsive to the movement of said control actuator away from the surface of said new roll for turning said reel in a direction to increase the portion of the surface of thenew roll contacted by said tension means and means responsive to the turning movement said reel for discontinuing such turning there- 0 6. In apparatus for splicing the leading end of the web on a new roll to a web running past the surface of the new roll from an expiring roll after the new roll is accelerated to running web speed, in combination with a rotatable reel having angularly spaced arms respectively carrying an expiring roll and a new roll and flexible tension means adjacent said reel for'contacting variable portions of the surfaces of said rolls as said reel is rotated, a control actuator on the new roll web adjacent its leading end, and means responsive to the movement of said control actuator away from the surface 01' said new roll for turning said reel ina direction to increase the portion of the surface of the new roll contacted by said tensionjacent said reel for contacting varying portions of the surfaces of the rolls on said reel as the reel is turned to different positions, a control actuator on the new roll web adjacent its leading end, means for splicing the leading end of the new roll web to the web running from the expiring roll, means responsive to movement of said control actuator away from the surface of said new roll after the splice is made for initiating rotation of said reel to advance the new rollinto said tension means, and means including a part connected to said reel for discontinuing rotation of said reel when the new roll has been advanced to a predetermined extent.

8. In apparatus for splicing the leading end of the web on a new roll to a web running past the surface of the new roll from an expiring roll after the new roll is accelerated to running web speed, in combination with a rotatable reel having spaced arms respectively carrying an expiring roll and a new roll, and flexible tension means adjacent said reel for contacting varying portions of the surfaces of the rolls on said reel as the reel is turned to different positions, a control actuator on the new roll web adjacent its leading end, means for splicing the leading end of the new roll web to the web running from the expiring roll, means responsive to movement of said control actuator away from the surface of said new roll after the splice is made for initiatin rotation or said reel to advance the new roll into said tension means, means including a part connected to said reel for discontinuing rotation of said reel when the new roll has been advanced to a predetermined extent and means for adiustably varying the position of said part relative to the position of said reel whereby the extent to which the new roll is advanced may be varied.

9. In apparatus for splicing the leading end of the web on a new roll to a web running past the surface of the new roll from an expiring roll after the new roll is accelerated to running web speed, in combination with a rotatable reel having spaced arms respectively carrying an expiring roll and a new roll, and flexible tension means adjacent said reel for contacting varying portions of the surfaces of the rolls on said reel as the reel is turned to different positions, a 0011!- trol actuator on the new roll web adjacent its v leading end, means for splicing the leading end of the new roll web to the web running from the expiring roll, means for severing the web running from the expiring roll, and means responsive to movement of said control actuator away from the surface of the new roll after the splice is made for actuating said web severing means and turning said reel to advance said new roll into said tension means. 1

19. In apparatus for splicing the leading end of the web on a new roll to a web running past the surface of the new roll from an expiring roll after the new roll is accelerated to running web speed, in combination with a rotatable reel having spaced arms respectively carrying an expiring roll and a new roll, and flexible tension means adjacent said reel for contacting varying I portions of the surfaces of the rolls on said reel as the reel is turned to difierent positions, a control actuator on the new roll web adjacent its leading end, means for splicing the leading end of the new roll web to the web running from'the expiring roll, means for severing the web running from the expiring roll, means responsive to movement of said control actuator away from the surface of the new roll after the splice is made for actuating said severing means and initiating rotation of said reel to advance the new roll into said tension means, and means responsive to the rotation of said reel for discontinuing rotation thereof when the new'roll has been so advanced to apredetermined extent.

11. In apparatus for splicing the leading end of the web on a new roll to a web running past the surface of the new roll from an expiring roll after the new roll is accelerated to running web speed, in combination with a rotatable reel having spaced arms respectively carrying an expiring roll and a new roll, and flexible tension means adjacent said reel for contacting varying portions of the surfaces of the rolls on said reel as the reel is turned to difierent positions, a control actuator on the new roll web adjacent its leading end, means for splicing the leading end of the new roll web to the web running from the expiring roll, means for severing the web running from the expiring roll, means responsive to movement of said control actuator away from the surface of the new roll after the splice is made for actuating said severing means and initiating rotation of said reel to advance the new roll into said tension means, means including a part connected to said reel for discontinuing rotation of said reel when the new roll has been advanced to a predetermined position, and means for adjustably varying the position of said part relative to the position of said reel whereby the position to which the new roll is advanced may be varied.

12. In apparatus for splicing the leading end of the web on a new roll to a web running past the surface of the new roll from an expiring roll after the new roll is accelerated to running web speed, in combination with means for applying a variable tension to the surfaces of said rolls, a control actuator on the under surface of the new roll web adjacent its leading end, means for splicing th outer surface of the leading end of the new roll web to the web running from an expiring roll, and means responsive to movement of said control actuator away from the surface of the new roll after the splice is made for increasing the tension applied to the surface of the new roll.

13. In apparatus for splicing the leading end of the web on a new roll toa web running past the surface of the new roll from an expiring roll after the new roll is accelerated to running web speed, in combination with means for applying a variable tension to the surfaces of said rolls, a conductive control actuator on the new roll web adjacent its leading end, means for splicing the leading end of the new roll web to a web running past the new roll from an expiring roll, electrical contacts disposed adjacent the path of the webs leaving the surface of the new roll and adapted to be electrically connected by said conductive control actuator after the splice is made, 'and means responsive to electrical connection of said contacts for increasing the tension applied to the surface of the new roll.

14, In apparatus for splicing the leading end of the web on a new roll to a web running past the surface of the new roll from an expiring roll after the new roll is accelerated to running web speed, in combination with means for applying a variable tension to the surfaces of said rolls, a conductive control actuator on the under surface of the new roll web adjacent its leading end, means for splicing the outer surface of the leading end of the new roll web to a web running past the new roll from an expiring roll, electrical contacts disposed in contact with the under surface of the webs leavingthe surface of the new roll and adapted to be electrically connected by said conductive control actuator after the splice is made, and means responsive to electrical connection of said contacts for increasing the tension applied to the surface of the new roll.

15. In apparatus or splicing th leading end of the web on a new roll to a web running past the surface of the new roll from an expiring roll after the new roll is accelerated to running web speed, in combination with a rotatable reel having spaced arms respectively carrying an expiring roll and a new roll, and flexible tension means adjacent said reel for contacting varying portions of the surfaces of the rolls on said reel as the reel is turned to different position, a pair of of control actuators on the new roll web adjacent its leading end, means or pressing the web running from the expiring roll against the surface of the new roll to splice th leading end of the new roll web to the web running from the ex-- piring roll, means responsive to movement of one of said control actuators on the new roll surface for actuating said web pressing means, and means responsive to the movement of the other of said control actuators away from the surface of the new roli after the splice is made for turning said reel to advance the new roll into said tension means.

16. In apparatus for-splicing the leading end of the web on a new roll to a web running past the surface of the new roll from an expiring roll after the new roll is accelerated to running web speed, in combination with a rotatable reel having spaced arms respectively carrying an expiring roll and a new roll, and flexible tension means adjacent said reel for contacting varying portions of the surfaces of the rolls on said reels as the reel is turned to different positions, a pair of control actuators on the new roll web adjacent its leading end, means for pressing the web running from the expiring roll against the surface of the new roll to splice the leading end of the new roll web to the web running from the expiring roll, means for severing the web running from the expiring roll, means responsive to movement of one of said control actuators on th new roll surface for actuating said web pressing means, and means responsive to the movement of the other of saidcontrol actuators away from the surface of the new roll after the splice is made for turning said reel to advance the new roll into saidtension means and actuating said severing means.

OSCAR C. ROESEN.

Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,413,581. December 31, 1946.

OSCAR C. ROESEN It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Column 11, line 49, claim 15, for or splicing read for splicing; column 12, line 11, same claim for or pressing read for pressing; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 4th day of March, A. D. 1947.

LESLIE FRAZER,

First Assistant Oommz'ssioner of Patents. 

